On Friday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting focused on the repatriation of Afghan refugees. The meeting emphasized the need for provincial consensus on managing relations with Afghanistan. A key decision was made to immediately send back all illegal Afghan nationals without any further extension. Only those with valid visas will be allowed to stay in Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi, the province was represented by Muzzammil Aslam. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured full support to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in all matters of public welfare.
PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing support for Afghanistan, reminding the participants that the country had hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades. He also noted that Pakistan has suffered thousands of casualties and billions of dollars in losses during the war against terrorism.
However, he expressed serious concern over recent terror attacks carried out from Afghan soil, stating that the involvement of Afghan nationals in such incidents is deeply troubling. The Prime Minister questioned, “How long will the people of Pakistan, who have already sacrificed so much, continue to bear the burden of Afghan refugees?” He urged the Afghan interim government to take concrete action against terrorism.
The meeting was briefed on the progress of the repatriation process, revealing that nearly 1.5 million Afghans had returned to Afghanistan in phases as of October 16, 2025.
The Prime Minister directed all provincial governments and relevant institutions to work closely together to ensure the quick and dignified return of illegal Afghan nationals. It was also announced that the number of exit points at the border is being increased to speed up the repatriation process.
PM Shehbaz issued strict instructions that elderly people, women, children, and minority communities must be treated with dignity and respect during the repatriation process.
Officials informed the meeting that providing shelter or accommodation to illegal Afghan nationals would now be considered a criminal offense. Legal action will be taken against violators, and public cooperation will be sought to ensure that undocumented Afghans are not given shelter.
In addition, the Prime Minister has called an important meeting to review the recent flood disasters across the country. The meeting will assess the damage caused by the floods and discuss the progress made in the rehabilitation of affected people. The national wheat policy will also be discussed during the session.
In the concluding session, the forum unanimously agreed to strictly implement all recommendations presented in the meeting. The Prime Minister called on all provinces to fully cooperate in ensuring a timely and respectful return of Afghan refugees.
